Indicating mechanism.



D. B. SGRAFFBD.

INDIGATING HGHARIBM.

armenio! Hmm tu 11. 190s.

947,948, Patented Feb. l, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. SCRAFFORD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 'WILLIS ELECTRIC METER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

INDIOATING MECHANISM.

Specicatiou of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. Soiiirronn, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Indicating Mechanism, of w ich theufollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specilcation.

My invention relates to indicator mechanism, particularly to indicaton mechanism for use on measuring instruments, such as meters.

My invention may be considered as an improvement over the indicator mechanism disclosed in my application Serial No. 331,957, led nu 25, 1906, and allowed March 13, 1908. he reoister mechanism in this copendino a plication is more especially adaptable or use in connection with gas meters or other meters in which the driving torque can be made considerable.

The device of my present invention is more adaptable for use in electric measuring instrumeiits,sucli as electric watt. meters, where the driving force for the indicating mechanism should be as small as possible. The

arrangementV of the various parts of the device is therefore somewhat. modified. in order thatA very little driving force. is necessary. The counting, or order wheels, are arranged in a horizontal row, and the driving Worm is mounted on an arbor which is in an upright position, referahly vertical. the worin directly with a pinion carbeing connecte ried by the units order wheel. The Worm 'wheel arbor carries aA spiral cani which travels on a cam roller, so that the Weightof the arbor is always supported from the fra-nie of the indicating mechanism and the only poivor necessary will be that which causes rotation of the arbor. and this power is extremely small.

l In the accompanying drawings ilhistiating my invention, Figure l isa front view ot' the indicating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a front view with the rover and paris of thc franicwork rcinoroil; Fig. il is :i sectional view taken on plane. lim-ti of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a View showing the arrangement ol': a carry over wheel willi reference to (he orilci wheels.

The supporting protectin frame coinpiises the rear plate 135 an the front U- shaped supporting frame 136 connected with the rear plate b means of posts 137. The rear plate has tie supporting lugs 138, by means of which the mechanism may be supported from the frame of a meter. Extending forwardly from the rear plate are the supporting brackets 139 and 110. Supported on these brackets at an intermediary point is the arbor 141, on which are loosely pivoted the various order wheels 142. Supported in the ends of the brackets is a second shaft or arbor 143, on which are loosely pivoted the various carry over wheels 1-14. The two arbors just mentioned pass throu li openings in the brackets, and to secure e arbors in place end plates 1415 and 146 are secured to the brackets to cover the openings after the arbors are inserted. Extending from the units order Wheel is a sleeve 147, carrying a driving pinion 118.- To the rear of this pinion is the upright. or vertical arbor 1-19, carrying the worm 150, which meshes with the driving pinion 148. rlhe arbor 1l9"engages at its ends in openings provided in sup orting brackets 151 and 152 secured to tige upper and lower edges respectively of the rear plate. Near the lower end of this arbor is secured the spiral cam 153, and above this cam is mounted a pinion 154. vPivoted to the end of a supporting piece 155 is the cam roller 156, this supporting piece having the slot, 15T and being secured by means of screw 158 to the rear plate, the position of the. cam roller being thus adjustable with re'eieiicc to the spiral cani. A second worm 159 is carried on arbor 160, which is pivoted in brackets 161 and 162, secured respectively to the front. and rear of the rear plate, as shown. At its outer cud this arbor mounts the pin.- ioii 1(33 which engages with another pinion ll mounted on the inner cui] oi the arbor 165, which carries at ils outer und the main geni' 164i. When thtl indicating mechanism is secured in proper position on lhc'niclcr structure, this main gear loll will incsh with a worin suitably conoci-.toil willi thv movable. elen'icnl: ol the nivtvr in u manner well It is desirable to slot all these various su porting brackets, and to secure them y means of screws, so that they may be moved to give the desired adjustment to the various i arbors or other members supported thereby. 1 The main gear transmits its rotation i through the gear train described to the worm 15S) and to the pinion 15-1 and driving i arbor 1&9. Upon rotation of the arbor 149, the spiral cam 153 travels over the cam roller to lift the arbor at the saine time that it is rotatinrr. The pitches of the spiral cam and the worm wheels and pinion 148 are so adg justcd that this upward movement of the? arbor 149 will not cause rotation of the pinion 14:8, and 'consequently the countingi train will not be moved during such lougi t-udinal movement of the driving arbor. When, however, the abrupt otlset 169 of the spiral cam reaches the cani roller, the force of ai-ity will cause the arbor to drop. During this dropping of the arbor, which is I practically instantaneous, the worm 150 will l not rotate, and will therefore act as a gear l rack with reference to the pinion 148 en; ed thereby, and this pinion and the units l or er wheel will consequently be rotated. the dro of the shaft being such that thef units w eel will. be rotated one division?, Only sufficient power must be provided the g main driving lgear to cause the driving i arbor to be rotated until the spiral cam has raised the arbor to its upper position; the i force of gravity then acting.; upon the arbor i and the various members supported thereby will be the force which will operate the. counting mechanism, and this force can be made suiicient to operate a plurality or all of the counting wheels, the counting wheels, .A as is well ltnoivn, sometimes moving simuli taneously as during a carry-over period. 3 To assure rei urn movement of the arbor 149 g after it has been raised suticiently by the spiral cam, I mount a second spiral cam 1Y0 i at the upper end of the arbor, which copen ates with a cani roller lil pivoled to thei adjustable supporting member 172. The adjustment is such that if after the oii'set l of the loiver spiral cam has passed the roller 156, the arbor 149 docs not drop but keeps on movin?` ui'nrardiy, the upper spiral cam l member will come into engagement. with its l. cam roller and the arbor given a downward impetus, to canse it to drop to its normal position. Thus, tbc operatii'vn oi' the indi eating mechanism is always assured without the necessity of applying; u weight to the. arbor, as the case in my ropcndingr :ipplication ,rel-'erred to, such weight imposing.: an unnecessary burden and calling l'or greater I driving power. which, :is before stati-d, slnniid he cnt down as lou a. possible in electrical instruments. Ipartirulnrlj." wall n'ieters.

As shown in l'ilo. I, a iront pluie or cover 1TH is provided having the sigbtl 3 cam mechanism.

openings 174 which register with the order wheels. If desired, the sides and ends ot' the frame may also be inclosed in any suitable manner. l

The indicating mechanism which I have described is very eiiicient for registering the work of electrical Watt meters. A ver)r small fraction of the power of the meter moi-lng element is necessary to cause efficient operation of the indicating' mechanism and the required power is constant, irrespective of the number of order Wheels operated, the force of gravity as described being the driving force directly controlling the Ioperation of the counting mechanism, the ower derived from the meter being' used only for causing rotation of the driving arbor to gradually raise this arbor by means of the The connection of the driving` arbor with the order wheels is also as direct as possible, there beingr therefore 5 very little lost motion or power. The construction and arrangement of the various parts 1s very simple and eiiicicnt, provision being made for close and accurate adjustment. I do notwish to be limited, however, to the precise form and arrangement shown, as modifications are possible which would still come within the scope of my invention.

l desire to secure the following claims by United States Letters Patent: l

1. In indicating or registering mechanism of the. class described, the combination of a supportingr frame, indicating order members arranged in a rou' on said frame, an npright driving spindle, a Worm on said spinalle, a pinion connected with the order Wheels and meshing with the worin, means connected with said upright spindle for causing' rotation thereof. means for causingl upward longitudinal movement of the spindle during rotation thereof, said upward movement adapted lo prevent rotation ot' the engaged order wheels, and a cam mechanism for causing.r restoration of the .spindleaft'er a predetermined amount of npwurd movement thereof. said order whee s heini; driven upon such downward move- I munt of the spindle.

ln indicating or registering mechanism of the class described, the combination of a suiiiporting frame. a plurality of indicating: order wheels arranged in a row on said frame. a pinion connected with one of said order wheels. a` worm meshing: with said' pinion. an upright spindle supporting said worm, a spiral cam on said spindle` a cani roller for said spiral cam. means vfor rotation* `said i-.pindh` whereby said spindle will ln' moved liudil)y in one direction., said upward lnovrnunt adopted lo prevent rotin Ation ol' thil pinion b v said worin. n rain nnwlmnisln for rcstorimer the spindle to its normal position :liter a jn'mlclcl'lnincl'l mnonnl'. olV bodily movement thereof, said rc- Uli turn movi-.nient of the spindle causing rotai tion of the order wheels.

3. In an indicating` or registering device of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame,

an indicating rotary incinber. ii pinion connected with said member.

; by the spindle, and associated cam mechana vertical spindle. a worm on said spindle for meshing with the pinion, means for con- 2 tinuouslv rotating said spindle, cam .inechg anisni rendered operative upon rotation of f position.

the .spindle to raise the spindle, .said upward movement of the spindle adapted to pre vent movement of the indicatingr member.

and a cam mechanism causing' said spindle to return to its normal position after a preadapted to suddenly release the spindle to allow it to suddenly restore to its normal position by the force of gravity, said driving gear being-. i rotated by the worm upon restoration of the spindle whereby the indicating mechanism is actuated, a second cani carried ism carried b v the frame, said second cani mechanism adapted to force the return movement. of said spindle to its normal 6. In a registering or indicating device of the class described, the combination of a vertical rotary member, means for graduallv :displacing said member during a prededetermined amount of bodil \7 movement thereof, said return movement adapted'to'v cause said worin wheel to drive the pinion g and indicating member.

l. In a registering' or indicating device of the class described, the combination of an upright spindle. a worm on said spindle, a gear meshing with said worm, indicating: or rcgisterinar mechanism connected with the gear. means adapted for connection with a driving); source and havin;r connection with the spindle to cause rotation thereof. cam mechanism carried by the spindle, associate cani mechanism carried by the frame, said mechanism associated with the order wheels,

cani mechanism becoming effective upon i'otation of the spindle to canse longitudinal upward movement of the spindle, said up ward movement adapted to prevent rotation of the gear and indicating mechanism bythe E,

rotar) movement of the spindle said cam mechanism being adapted to suddenlyY release the spindle to allo sudden return thereof to its normal position. said gear being rotated hy the worin upon such siid den return movement of the spindle to its normal position, a second cani carried by the spindle. and associated cam mechanism carried by the frame. said second cani adapted to force the return movement of said spindle to its normal position.

5. ln a registering.r or indicating device. of s roller causing said .spina le to he raised. the t pitches ol' the spiral gear. worin und driving;V Lear being sut-li that tbc. dr|vi|i,l r gear will not be rotated upon such rntiirlv and vertu-ul movement: ot' the spindle, sind cuni bringt driving 'mar tor .said indicating` or registerterinined amount of rotation thereof, a cam mechanism for insurin; r the return of said member to its initial position at the end of Said predetermined' amount of restoration, and indicating or registering mechanism having connection with the rotary member but operated only by the return movement of said member.

7. In registering or indicating' mechanism of the class described, the combination of a supportin frame, a horizontal row of indicatinol order wheels, a common shaft for said order wheels, a. drivin A gear connected with one of said order wieels, carry-over a worin e aging the driving tcrear, a vertical spind e supporting said worm, means for causing rotation of said spindle, means for raising said spindle at. a certain rate during rotation thereof, said upward movement of the spindle preventing rotation of the driving gear by the worm, means for suddenly releasing the spindle. to allow it to return to its normal position, said gear being rotated by the worin diiiirior such sudden return movement of the Spindle whereby the. indicating order wheels are actuated, and a eam mechanism for insuring the return of said spindle to its normal position.

8. In indicating or i'effistering mechanism of the class: described. the. combination of a supportiimr frame. a horizontal shaft supported on said frame, a row of nrdei wheels mounted on said shaft, carry-over Iegeai's associated with the order wheels and forming therewith an indicating: mechanism, a drivinf: ,ucar connected with the units order wheel, a worin meshing with said driving gear, a vertical spindle .supporting said worin. a spiral geur on said spindle. an adjustable cani roller carried h v the frame, moans t'or rotating .said iindle to cause the cam to travel over the ro ler und thorn-bv to cause the spindle to lie raised. tlieadiust nient. heilig such that the driving geur will not lie rotated during' the combined rotational and upward movi-nientV ol the spindle.

said spiral cani boing adapted to suddenly release tho spindle ulti-r u predeterulined amount. ol` upward movement thoreot".

r ing the restoring movement of the s indle to mined amount of upward movement thereof by the I irst spiral gear and cam roller. 1o In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe cause indication on the order wlx a sec- I my name this 7th day of Mav, A. D. 1908.

ond s irai cam carried by the spindle, and a DANIEL E. SRAFFORD. secon adjustable cam roller coperating Witnesses:

with the second spiral cam to cause the spin- CHARLES J. Scmum'r,

dle to move downwardly after a predeter- GEORGE E. Hmmm.

whereby said spindle falls to its normal position, said driving gear being rotated dur 

